Sikh groups are planning several weekend demonstrations protesting Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation to Indian PM Narendra Modi for next week’s G7 Summit, slamming it as a tone deaf “betrayal” of the community’s trust.
World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) spokesperson Balpreet Singh and Sikh Federation (SF) Canada spokesperson Moninder Singh issued a scathing rebuke of Carney’s move on Thursday, telling Hill reporters that he should not be rolling out the “red carpet” for a world leader repeatedly accused of targeting dissidents abroad.
They said a handful of demonstrations will pop up across the country as the summit, which begins Sunday and wraps on Tuesday in Alberta, inches closer.
One will take place on the Hill Saturday afternoon, with buses rolling in from other cities and up to 1,000 people expected to gather in Ottawa.
Some community leaders are also considering banning politicians from speaking at gurdwaras amid concerns over how the feds are handling the matter, they added, warning that “everything is on the table.”
“We want to make sure the government does the right thing. What relationship do we have if our lives and the lives of our community members are going to be put at risk?” Moninder wondered.
“We open up our gurdwaras to anyone … but it is not a place for people to actually take a political stage if they're going to jeopardize the lives of our activists, our community members, our business people and our children.”
The pair said news of Carney’s defence of the invitation falls short because it puts the country’s economic interests above the safety of Canadians.
Carney has argued that it’s important for India to have a say in trade and security talks, as it is a critical player in global supply chains and one of the world’s largest economies. Following a call between the pair, Carney said the duo agreed to continue “law enforcement dialogue and discussions addressing security concerns” but remained vague on “some progress” that’s been made.
His comments came after the RCMP cited evidence last fall that India was involved in violent crimes like murders and gang activity in Canada, which followed previous allegations that New Delhi agents were linked to the murder of B.C. Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
On Thursday, Global News reported that ex-NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was surveilled closely by a suspected Indian agent and placed in police protection by the RCMP, with sources saying the individual knew about the politician’s travel and family.
For Balpreet, this raises questions about who else in the Sikh community may be targeted.
“This isn't a one-off. It’s the latest and the most brazen in a chapter of transnational repression directed by India at Sikhs in Canada,” he said.
The pair urged Ottawa to launch a public inquiry into New Delhi’s involvement in foreign interference and transnational repression; immediately cancel intelligence sharing agreements with India; and withdraw the PM’s invite until Modi agrees to co-operate with law enforcement investigations and no longer target Sikhs in Canada.
Moninder argued Carney’s invitation helps “legitimize” India’s alleged actions and sends a damaging message that Canada will not hold foreign states accountable.
“The G7 is a platform for democratic nations committed to human rights. India’s actions directly contradict these principles,” he said. “Canada has to send a clear message right now.”
Don’t be ‘wishy-washy’
The saga also played out within the Liberal caucus on Wednesday, with B.C. MP Sukh Dhaliwal criticizing the invitation and relaying his concerns directly to Carney before the party’s weekly meeting.
Dhaliwal, who represents the riding where Nijjar was killed, said the PM would be “very strong in dealing with” the issue. While Balpreet Singh commended him for speaking out, he argued there are other members of the Sikh community within the government who must also show they “appreciate the threat that exists.”
“Even if they're not speaking out, they understand, they know this was the wrong decision. But this is politics, and so some of them have expressed their inability to speak out publicly,” he added.
While he did not name names, the comments came after International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu admitted that some of his constituents have raised concerns about the G7 invitations, but maintained the feds need to "collaborate” in a “time of crisis.”
Balpreet dismissed the Wednesday meeting between Carney and concerned MPs as “wishy-washy,” vowing to watch how Carney engages with Modi and what emerges from the summit.
“Without the concrete steps we’ve described, there is really nothing to reassure us that this is being taken seriously,” he said.
Moninder agreed, urging the PM to use the summit to publicly condemn Modi and shed light on what their talks focused on, arguing Carney has yet to set any “boundaries” around the discussions so far.
“What prime minister Carney does now will basically dictate whether there’s any trust going forward in himself and his government,” he said.
Carney has invited a swath of world leaders to next week’s affair, including Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The former has reportedly declined his invitation.
